Meter circuit protective means



May 7, 1940- J. K. HODNETTE 2,199,630

METER` CIRCUIT PROTECTIVE MEANS V Filed July 9, 1938 Fig j? lsulazfi 012 I I NA r4] ,4a- ABGB/7- llsulatzon 56d. 5 l., -/48 Fzg. ff. ,mlmjdmm $6 4 j WITNEssEs: v lNvENToR m Jaim K.Hod17ezte. Zoff@ .52 BY 5j 54 y .ATT EY Patented May 7, 1940 PATENT OFFICE METER CIRCUIT PROTECTIVE MEANS J ohn K. Hodnctte, Sharon, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company,

East Pittsburgh, Pa.,

Sylvania la corporation of Penn- Application July 9, i938, serial No. 218,334

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric discharge device, and it has particular relation to a surgeproof meter protected against electric discharges.

y Since the development of a successful detachable type of meter as depicted, for example, in the patents to Bradshaw et al. No. 1,969,499 and Allen et al. No. 2,076,491, the practice of mounting these meters in outdoor` locations has grown very appreciably. `In certain cases, these meters n) have been found to fail in a manner which could not be attributed to defects in manufacture or installation. I have found that these failures have been caused bythe presence of electrical surges in the incoming line which cause an insulation failure in the coils of the meter.

Installations of the meters available prior to the introduction of the detachable type of meter invariably were in basements or rooms protected from the elements and surrounded by fuses, switches and poor wiring. These switches and fuses customarily wiere located ahead of the meter, so that when an electrical surge occurred on the incoming line, the fuses, switches and poor wiring ahead of the meter would offer a convenient discharge path for the electrical surges, and the meter itself would not be injured. When the detachable type of meter was found to be particularly suited to outdoor applications, a new sequence of metering was adopted, in which the meter preceded the switches and fuses. In such an installation, the meter must bear the brunt of any electrical surge on the incoming line whether due to lightning, electrical disturbances or other causes.

After analyzing the causes of meter failures, I next attacked the problem of protecting the meter against such failures. I'his can be accomplished by placing a surge protector or electric discharge device either ahead of the meter orl voverlooked readily during installation, it is a separate point of servicing, and it leaves the meter unprotected in the event that the surge protector has a poor ground.

At rst it was thought that adequate protection could be obtainedv by weakening the insulation of a lead from the voltage coil of a meter to insure a failure of the lead instead of the coil when an electrical surge reaches the meter. Although such a failure would be easier to repair than a coil failure, it is unsatisfactory because the meter would be placed out of service upon the occurrence of a surge, and because of the absence of a provision for quenching the power discharge which follows the surge. From a practical standpoint it is dinicult to calibrate the weakened lead to fail at a predetermined voltage. ConsequentlyI adopted a completely independent surge protector.

By placing the surge protector in the same casing with the meter, the meter coils are held at a constant maximum voltage relative to the meter casing, regardless of 'the efiicacy of the ground. Moreover, a ground usually is available through the conduits commonly employed for leading the line and load conductors into and out of the meter receptacles. rI'he watthour meter manufacturer can supply the'surge protector in the meter casing without requiring a separate installation at the time the meter is placed in service. Since the watthour meter element is delicate, it is common practice to provide the meter with a Asound and sturdy casing for protection both against the elements and tampering. Such protection is automatically provided for the surge protector by placing it within the same cover. When the meter is detached for servicing, the surge protector at the same time is also opened to inspection. If it is desirable to conne the arcing or dischargeof the protector, such an installation readily restricts the arcing or discharge to the meter casing. In addition, such a position 0f the protector is desirable because the meter terminals provide a ready source of connections for the protector. Finally, the surge protector may be combined with certain insulation present in the meter assembly with a resultant saving in parts.

Following my analysis oi' the cause oi meter failures and its correction, I investigated the surge protectors available in the prior art. Invariably these were entirely too large for installation in many of the meter casings, because of the limited space available in certain classes of detachable meters. For this reason, I have found it desirable to develop a compact and positive surge protector, particularly suitable for use in the casings of electrical instruments. Such a surge protector may take the form of a pair of terminals separated to form a` discharge gap, which breaks down when the voltage applied thereto rises above a, predetermined value.l Preferably, a material should be placed adjacent the electrical discharge which evolves a gas in the presence of an electrical discharge that aids in the suppression or quenching of the discharge. Such a material may be compressed boric acid, cellulose acetate, or a ilbre commonly known as hard iibre.

It is, therefore, an object of provide a surge-proof meter.

It is a further object oi' my invention to place a surge protector within a meter casing.

It is another object of my invention to include a surge protector in the socket of a detachable type of meter.

It is another object of my invention to provide a compact and positive electric discharge device suitable for use in a limited space.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in section of a meter installation embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in section of an electricdischarge device designed in accordance with my invention;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views in plan and side elevation, respectively, of a modified surge protector;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views in plan and side elevation, respectively, showing a still further modificationof an electrical discharge device;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing one installation of the surge protector shown in Figs. 5 and 6;

Figs. 8 and 9 are views in elevation and section, respectively, of a still further modiiication of an electrical discharge device; and

Figs. 10 and 11 are views in exploded'section and plan, respectively, of another modihcation of an electrical discharge device.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. l shows a meter installation of the detachable type, in which a meter unit i is mounted in a suitable cover remyinvention to ceptacle which may comprise a base plate 2 attached in any desirable manner to a glass cover 3. a gasket 4 commonly being placed therebetween. This assembly is adapted to be mounted on a suitable base receptacle, such as a socket assembly 5, and retained in place thereon by a sealing ring 6, which engages flanges formed on the cover 3 and the socket 5. The socket I is provided with a plurality of contact jaws I and l, which are mounted on a block of insulation 2. The jaws are provided with terminal extensions I0 and H which may carry terminal screws I2 for connection to line and load conductors which enter the socket through conduits I3 and Il, In this particular form of meter, the base plate 2 carries a plurality oi.' contact blades I5 and Il which are received in the contact jaws 1 and l when the meter is placed in position on its socket.

' and which are detached from the contact Jaws when the meter is removed from its socket. 'Riese contact blades are attached to the coils of the meter i Further details of the construction of a detachable type of meter similar to that shown in Fig. 1 will be found in the above-mentioned patents.

In order to protect the meter against electrical discharges or surges, I place within the meter cover or socket one or more electrical discharge devices or surge protectors. These may be all of the same design or of diii'erent designs, and may be positioned in either the socket alone, the cover alone, or in both the socket and cover. One protector which I have found suitable for use in a meter installation comprises a bolt Il which may be a terminal for one of the meter coils. 'nils bolt is employed for attaching three insulating washers It, I9 and 2l-to the base plate 2. The bolt is bushed ,through the base plate 2 in any suitable manner, as by extending a bushing from the insulating member I0. Between the insulating members Il and Il, I place a terminal washer 2l, which is of electroconductive material. Although the terminals employed in my electrical d ischarge device may be of any suitable electroconductive material, I prefer to make them of a non-corrosive material, such as that commonly known, as stainless steel. If the base plate is of electroconductive material, as is ordinarily the case, a discharge path is provided between the terminal 2| and the base plate 2, as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 2. By suitable proportioning oi the insulating member and the terminal 2|, this discharge path may be designed to break down at any desired voltage. It will be noted that the discharge when it takes place passes through a restricted channel between the insulating members Il and I l. By constructing these insulating members oi' material capable oi evolving a gas in the presence of an electrical discharge, a discharge once formed will be rapidly quenched without damage to the coils or movable elements of the meter.

In the modication shown in Figs. 3 and 4,'a pair oi' insulating members 22 and 23 are placed on opposite sides of a terminal member 2|. The insulating members 22 and 22 carry terminal screws or lugs 2i and 26 which may be screwed into openings provided in the insulating members 22 and 23, or may be molded therein during manufacture. It will be noted that this electrical discharge device Iprovides two discharge paths. one between the terminal members 2l and 25 and the second between the terminal members 2l and 2i. Each discharge is directed into a channel 2l or 28 which is provided in the insulating member 22 or 22. If these insulating members are of a material which evolv gas in the presence of an electrical discharge, the quenching action of the discharge device will be greatly enhanced.

In Fig. l, I have shown an electrical discharge device having an insulating member 2l, which is similar to the insulating member 22 of Pigs. 3 and 4. and a terminal Il, which corresponds to the terminal 2i oi Figs. 3 and 4. However, instead of a separate terminal 2l, the base of the socket l itself acts as a terminal for the electrical discharge device. In this particular installation, the terminal Il is connected to the terminal extension il of the socket contact Jaw I, and prevents the voltage applied thereto from rising above a predetermined value.

On the base plate 2 I mount an additional electrical discharge device Il, which is similar ln all respects to that described in the preceding paragraph, except for the presence of an additional terminal or ground member 22, which corresponds to the terminal member 24 of Pig. 4. Such an arrester may be employed either on the metallic base plate 2 or on an insulating base plate. As illustrated, this electrical discharge device 2| is connected through a conductor 2l either to a contact blade or directly to a terminal of one of the coils of the meter.

In order to simplify the construction of the installation, an electrical discharge device may be built into one of the parts that is required for the meter assembly. P'or example, in Fig. l. an electricahdischarge device is provided by attaching a lug or screw ll to the terminal extension Il, as shown in dotted lines in Flg.1. In this case, a channel 2i for the discharge may be provided between the insulation block I and the baseofthesocketl. Iftheinsulation blockis formed of a material which evolves gas in the presence of an electrical discharge. this electrical n discharge device will operate in the same manner as those previously described.

Although the conduits I3 and I4 may form a ground for the electrical discharge devices, if desired, a separate ground or other conductor may be taken from an electrical discharge device through either of the conduits.

If two electrical discharge devices similar to that shown in Fig. 2 are placed side by side, it is possible to provide an auxiliary gap without increasing the number of parts. Such a design is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, certain of the parts being combined for simplicity. In this figure, two terminal bolts 36 and 31 are employed for attaching three insulating members 38, 39 and 40 to a metallic terminal or base plate 4|. Each of the bolts 36 and 31 is hushed through the terminal 4| in a manner analogous to that employed in Fig. 2. A meter terminal member 42 is provided for each of the terminal bolts 36 and 31 and is positioned between the two insulating lmembers 38 and 39. As shown by the broken lines in Fig. 6, such an arrangement provides three discharge paths, one between the terminal bolts 36 and 31 and one between each terminal bolt and the terminal plate 4l.

A simple installation of such an electrical discharge device is shown in Fig. '7 in which a watthour meter comprising a current coil `43 and a voltage coil 44` is connected to line and load conductors. Between the line conductors I connect a surge protector A similar to that shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Such a surge protector provides a discharge path between each line and ground and also between the line conductors. Since the current coil of Fig. 7 is connected to the voltage coil, a single electrical discharge device as shown ordinarily suflices for protecting both of .the coils. Other meter coil arrangements may be protected by equivalent procedures. In Fig. 7, the outline and jaw structure of a meter socket similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1 are shown. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate another suitable electrical discharge device in which a pair of terminal screws or lugs 45 and 46 and a partition member 41 are placed between two insulating blocks 48 and 49.` As customary in this class of electrical discharge device, a channel 5U is provided for the electrical discharge. yIf the partition is an insulating partition, or if it is removed, a single discharge path is provided between the terminals 45 and 46, but if the partition 41 is electroconductive and is grounded, a separate discharge path is provided between each terminal 45 or 46 and the partition 41. Preferably, the blocks 48 and 49 are constructed of a material which evolvesgas in the presence of an electrical discharge.

The modification shown in Figs. 10 and 11 is particularly suitable for high-voltage work. In this modification, an insulating tube 5l houses a plurality of'terminal discs 52 and insulating discs 53. Each terminal disc 52 is provided with a protuberance `54 which is received in an opening 55 placed in the center of each insulating disc 53. The insulating disc 53 also carries a channel 56 which provides a dischargepath for an electrical discharge formed between a projection 54 and an adjacent surface of the next terminal disc 52. An opening 51 preferably is provided through the insulating tube 5I to vent the electrical discharge carried through the channel 56. The lower terminal 58 may be a plain metal disc. In use, this protector would Lave a connection be tween the uppermosi terminal disc 52 and the tacle provided with second scription. When the meter is connected in circuit, it will operate in the customary way until an electrical surge appears on the incoming line. When this happens, the voltage across the protective electrical discharge devices or surge protectors rises above the value at which the surge protectors are designed to break down and the surge is discharged through the electrical discharge devices without harming the coils of the meter.

Certain subject matter herein disclosed is disclosed and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 320,135, led February 21, 1940.

Although I have described my invention with reference to certain specific embodiments thereof, it is obvious that many modiiications thereof are possible. My invention is applicable generally to electrical instruments and devices other than watthour meters. The specific lightning arresters employed, their mountings and their lo cations in the casings may be varied appreciably without departing from my invention. Therefore, I do not wish my invention to be restricted except as required by the appended claims when interpreted in view of the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a detachable type of mounting for an electrical instrument, a base receptacle having first electrical contact members, a cover recepelectrical contact members, said iirst Contact members and second contact members coacting to establish electrical contact therebetween when said receptacles are in attached position and to break contact when said receptacles are separated, and an electrical surge discharge circuit for said instrument including an electrical surge protector positioned in one of said receptacles, said surge protector being electrically connected to at least one of said contact members.

2. In a detachable type of mounting .for an electrical instrument, a base receptacle having iirst electrical contact members, a cover receptacle provided with second electrical contact members, said rst and second contact members coacting establish electrical contact therebetween w'hen said receptacles are in attached po-v sition and tcbrealr. contact when said receptacles are separated, and an electrical surge protector positioned in one of said receptacles and having a first terminal electrically connected to one of said members, the receptacle containing said surge protector having an electroconductive portion adjacent said surge protector and forming part of the surge discharge path of said snr-ge protector.

`3. In a detachable type of mounting for an electrical instrument, a base receptacle having first electrical contact members, a cover recepta- "cle provided with second electrical contact memtween when said receptacles are in attached po' sition and to break contact when said receptacles are separated, an electrical surge protector positioned in one oi said receptacles, the receptacle containing said surge protector having an electroconductive portion adjacent said surge protector and forming part of the surge discharge path ci' said surge protector, said surge protector having a terminal electrically connected to one of said members for producing an electrical 'discharge when a surge is applied thereto, and a body adjacent the region of said discharge which evolves gas in the presence o! a discharge.

4. In a detachable type of mounting for an 'electrical instrument, a base receptacle having electrical contact elements, a cover receptacle provided with electrical contact members, said contact members and contact elements coacting to establish electrical contact therebetween when said receptacles are in attached position and to break contact when said receptacles are separated, and an electrical. surge protector positioned in one of said receptacles, said protector having a terminal spaced from a portion of one of said receptacles, a structure deiining a'recess between said terminal and said portion, said structure being capable of evolving a gas in the presence of an electrical discharge, the terminal being positioned to produce an electrical discharge in said recess when an electrical surge reaches said surge protector.

5. In a socket for a detachable meter having electrical contact members, a receptacle, a plurality oi' electrical contact elements in said receptacle for establishing contact with said meter contact members, and an electrical surge discharge circuit for said meter including an electrical surge protector in said receptacle, said surge protector having a terminal connected to one of said contact elements.

6. In a socket for a detachable meter having electrical contact members, a receptacle, a plurality oi' electrical contact elements in said receptacle for establishing contact with said me- JOHN K. HODNETIE. 

